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DistributedContexts

is an option for various parallel computing functions that specifies which definitions for symbols appearing in an expression should be distributed to all parallel kernels.

Details
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Examples  
Basic Examples  
Scope  
Applications  
Properties & Relations  
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DistributedContexts

DistributedContexts

is an option for various parallel computing functions that specifies which definitions for symbols appearing in an expression should be distributed to all parallel kernels.

Details

  • Possible settings include:
  • "context`"all symbols in context "context`"
    {"ctx1`","ctx2`",…}all symbols in the given contexts
    Nonedo not distribute any definitions
    Alldefinitions of all symbols
    Automaticall contexts appearing in expr
    $Contextall symbols in the current context
  • Definitions of symbols appearing in an expression set for parallel evaluation that match the given contexts are distributed automatically before the parallel evaluation, effectively using DistributeDefinitions.
  • Definitions for symbols on which other distributed definitions depend are also distributed, as long as they belong to one of the given contexts.
  • The initial value for most parallel computing functions is DistributedContexts:>$DistributedContexts.

Examples

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Basic Examples  (4)

By default, definitions in the current context are distributed automatically in a parallel computation:

Wolfram Language code: remote[x_] := {$KernelID, x ^ 3}
Wolfram Language code: Parallelize[Table[remote[i], {i, 4}]]
Wolfram Language code: $DistributedDefinitions

Do not distribute definitions of functions defined:

Wolfram Language code: local[x_] := {$KernelID, x ^ 2}
Wolfram Language code: Parallelize[Table[local[i], {i, 4}], DistributedContexts -> None]
Wolfram Language code: $DistributedDefinitions

Distribute definitions for all symbols in all contexts appearing in a parallel computation:

Wolfram Language code: a`f[x_] := {$KernelID, x} b`f[x_] := {$KernelID, -x}
Wolfram Language code: Parallelize[{a`f[1], b`f[1]}, DistributedContexts -> Automatic]
Wolfram Language code: $DistributedDefinitions

Distribute only definitions in the given contexts:

Wolfram Language code: a`g[x_] := {$KernelID, x} b`g[x_] := {$KernelID, -x}
Wolfram Language code: Parallelize[{a`g[1], b`g[1]}, DistributedContexts -> {"a`"}]
Wolfram Language code: $DistributedDefinitions

Scope  (1)

Find all parallel functions that use the DistributedContexts option:

Wolfram Language code: Select[Names["System`Parallel*"], MemberQ[First /@ Options[Symbol[#]], DistributedContexts]&]

Applications  (1)

Turn off automatic distribution of definitions in all commands such as ParallelMap:

Wolfram Language code: $DistributedContexts = None;

Restore the default value:

Wolfram Language code: $DistributedContexts := $Context;

Properties & Relations  (1)

The default setting of DistributedContexts in most parallel commands:

Wolfram Language code: Options[ParallelMap]

The default value of $DistributedContexts is $Context:

Wolfram Language code: {$DistributedContexts, $Context}

Parallelize uses a different default setting:

Wolfram Language code: Options[Parallelize]
Wolfram Research (2010), DistributedContexts, Wolfram Language function, https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/DistributedContexts.html.

Text

Wolfram Research (2010), DistributedContexts, Wolfram Language function, https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/DistributedContexts.html.

CMS

Wolfram Language. 2010. "DistributedContexts." Wolfram Language & System Documentation Center. Wolfram Research. https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/DistributedContexts.html.

APA

Wolfram Language. (2010). DistributedContexts. Wolfram Language & System Documentation Center. Retrieved from https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/DistributedContexts.html

BibTeX

@misc{reference.wolfram_2026_distributedcontexts, author="Wolfram Research", title="{DistributedContexts}", year="2010", howpublished="\url{https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/DistributedContexts.html}", note=[Accessed: 01-September-2026]}

BibLaTeX

@online{reference.wolfram_2026_distributedcontexts, organization={Wolfram Research}, title={DistributedContexts}, year={2010}, url={https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/DistributedContexts.html}, note=[Accessed: 01-September-2026]}